FWCS says farewell to 73 retirees

Fort Wayne Community Schools will say good-bye to 73 retirees with nearly 2,000 combined years of service at the annual retirement dinner Thursday, May 16.

The district wishes the best to the teachers, bus drivers, classroom assistants, administrators and others who dedicated many years to making the lives of children better. The years of service for this year’s group of retirees range from 12 to 49, and each year made a difference to students.

The following are the retirees FWCS honors this year:

Name

Position

Years of Service

Lynn Scotty Smuts

Business teacher, Snider

49

Carolyn Yates

Language arts teacher, Lakeside

43

Margaret Schimmel

Third-grade teacher, Waynedale

42

Shelley Wellington

English teacher, Snider

40.5

John H. Weicker

Director of Security

40

Judith Henderson

District instructional coach

39.5

Patrick Blose

Assistant principal, Towles Montessori

39

Janet Perez

English/reading teacher, Anthis Career Center

39

Robert Ping

Science teacher, Lane

39

William Schott

Fifth-grade teacher, Weisser Park

39

Theresa Stumpf

Interventionist, Weisser Park

39

Mary Yarnelle

First-grade teacher, St. Joseph Central

37.5

Stephany Bourne

Principal, Indian Village

37

Donn Nichols

Fifth-grade teacher, Weisser Park

36.5

Kevin Fahlsing

Bus technician

36.5

Bonnie Rogers

Manager, Continuing Education

34.5

Janet Davis

Student interventionist, Haley

34

Rhonda Lawrence

Second-grade teacher, Shambaugh

33.5

Debra Fry

Physical education teacher, Croninger

33

Pamela Baker

Spanish teacher, Northrop

32.5

Larry Shelton

Physical education teacher, Forest Park

32.5

Marsha Flora

English/journalism teacher, Northrop

31.5

Judith Bransteter

Math teacher, Anthis Career Center

29

Glenda Hayworth

Counselor, Jefferson

29

Elaine Kemerer

Senior programmer, Technology

27

Diane Cox

Secretary, Continuing Education

26

Susan Verse

Fourth-grade teacher, Maplewood

25.5

Julie Farrimond

Secretary, Chief Operations Office

25.5

Roberta Bernard

Secretary, Security

25

Judith Keys

Bus driver

25

Julie Bird

Sixth-grade social studies teacher, Lakeside

25

Lynn Hall

Manager, Compensation & Benefits

25

Lee Murphy

Special Education-Instructional Coach, North Side

25

Shirley Taylor

Extracurricular clerk, Transportation

25

Patricia Russell

Clerk, Media Services

25

Cynthia Ricker

Third-grade teacher, Glenwood Park

24.5

Lynn Yoder

Language Arts, Portage

24

Gloria Dance

Social studies/math teacher, Jefferson

23.5

Marsha White

School psychologist, Special Education

23.5

Cynthia Ellinwood

Kindergarten teacher, Whitney Young Early Childhood

23

Deborah Nunn-Persley

Third-grade teacher, Harrison Hill

23

Jean Strawser

Family & Consumer science/media, Miami

23

Donna Sturgeon

Special education, Forest Park

23

Jeanne Nes

Media center teacher, Lindley

23

Joyce Sowders

Instructional assistant, Holland

22.5

Christine Michael

Science teacher, Irwin

22

Wanda Sommer

Student interventionist, Maplewood

22

Mary Eliasson

Secretary/Treasurer, South Wayne

22

Kathleen Minton

Bus driver

22

Brenda Lee

Bus assistant

21

Rosa Sherman

Instructional assistant, Franke Park

21

Diane Perriguey

Language arts/science, Portage

21

Luke Richardson

Construction trades instructor, Anthis Career Center

21

Sue Ellen Cash

Safety coordinator, Transportation

19

Marcella Degitz

Accounting supervisor

18.5

Sandra Bruce

Guidance secretary, North Side

18.5

Julie Klugman

Media clerk, Harrison Hill

18.5

Donna Lobdell

Secretary, Miami

18.5

Monica Etter

Textbook rental coordinator

18

Linda Keifer

Instructional assistant, Haley

17.5

Karen Murphy

Bus assistant

17

Diane Williams Woods

Receptionist, South Side

17

Chris Greene

Special education assistant, Kekionga

17

Cynthia Asselin

Fifth-grade teacher, Bloomingdale

16.5

Nancy Herber

Secretary, Continuing Education

16.5

Dawn Rosendall

Student interventionist, Lindley

16

Robert Warnsley

In-school suspension supervisor, Jefferson

16

Elise Stier

Second-grade teacher, Washington

15.5

Ronald Bade

Bus driver

15

Nancy Krumm

Family & consumer science, South Side

15

Donna Sickafus

Secretary, Maintenance & Operations

15

Beverly Johnson

Baker, Snider

13

Bonnie Fairfield

Internal auditor

12

With nearly 30,000 students, Fort Wayne Community Schools is one of the largest school districts in Indiana. FWCS proudly allows families to choose any of its 50 schools through its successful school-choice program creating diversity in each school, including some with more than 75 languages spoken. FWCS offers seven magnet schools focusing on areas such as science and math, communication, fine arts or Montessori at the elementary and middle school level. In high school, students can choose from the prestigious International Baccalaureate program, Project Lead the Way or New Tech Academy as well as other rigorous academic and specialty training programs.